Andrew Lemley to lead NC Craft Brewers Guild

New executive director brings a national industry perspective to the ‘State of Southern Beer’

RALEIGH – The North Carolina Craft Brewers Guild (NCCBG) today announced that Andrew Lemley will assume the leadership role of Executive Director.

“I’m very excited to be joining the Guild,” Lemley said. “North Carolina is a great craft beer state because of the wonderful community of dedicated brewers. I’m grateful for the opportunity and really looking forward to getting to work for the State of Southern Beer.”

Andrew comes to the Guild from New Belgium Brewing Company, where he served a variety of roles since 2009, most recently as head of their Government Affairs Program.

“We’re thrilled to have Andrew join the Guild team,” said Jamie Bartholomaus, vice-president of the NC Craft Brewers Guild board of directors and president of Foothills Brewing. “Andrew’s deep experience in management, retail, government and public affairs will be a huge asset to all of North Carolina’s brewers.”

Lemley will assume his duties on November 6th, 2017, at the Guild’s 4th annual conference and trade show in Winston-Salem. The NC Craft Brewers Conference is an industry event that draws more than 600 members of the craft brewing industry for educational programming on everything from technical brewing skills to marketing and policy.

The NC Craft Brewers Guild is a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization based in Raleigh. Margo Knight Metzger was the Guild’s first full-time Executive Director, and led the Guild through a strong period of growth and development as the state’s craft brewing industry mushroomed. Fawn Pattison has served as interim director since Metzger’s departure on August 1. She will return to her previous role as special projects consultant with the Guild when Lemley takes the helm.

North Carolina boasts the largest number of craft breweries in the American South, with more than 230 breweries and brewpubs. The mission of the non-profit NC Craft Brewers Guild is to advance the interests of the craft breweries of North Carolina and to promote North Carolina craft beer.